Drilling apparatus



y N. MADSEN DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4, 1925 Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN m'AnsEN, or MICHIGAN cm, INDIANA, ssIeNoR T SULLIVAN MA: cnINnmr courANY, A CORPORATION or mAssAcIIUsE'r'rs.

IDRILLING APYARATUS.

My invention relates to drilling apparatus and more particularly to drilling apparatus of the oil well type.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved drilling apparatus. Another object of my, invention is to :provide improved raising and lowering means for the drill rods of such an apparatus. Still an- ,other object of m invention is to provide an improved lifting bail or elevator for raising and lowering drill rods which is of an exceedingly simple and ruggedstructure and which may be adjusted with facility. These and other objects and advantages of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully'appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown, for purposes of illustration, one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,-

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away in section,of my improved lifting bail dis osed inoperative position relative to the rill rods.

Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of.my improved lifting bail illustrating the improved lifting clevis and gate lock, the latter, being shown. in its open or released position.

Fig. 4 is a detail elevational view partially in section of the lifting bail, the gate lock being illustrated in its raised position.

.In this illustrative form of my invention I have shown a lifting bail or elevator of lmproved form, generally designated 1, which, comprises a body portion or and clevis 2 having radially spaced vertical bores 3 within which the ends 4 of a bail 5 a e suitably secured. The body portionv2- rs provided with an enlarged central opening 6 open .at one side and adapted to embrace the usual drill rods 7 and is further provided at its upper surface with a horizontal plane raised portion or boss 8 adapted 'to engage the bottom surface of a usual enlarged collar. or con ling 9 suitably secured to the drill r 7. The bail 5 is adapted to be engiliged by a hook andcable connection, not s own, which cable passes upwardly around a pulley or sheave carried by the well derrick and-then downwardly to the usual hoisting drum of the drilling mechanism in a well known manner.

It will herein be noted that'in m'y improved construction the casing 2 is provided with a lateral lug 10 having a vertically disposed stepped bore 11 within which a pin 1:

or bolt 12 is slidably disposedp. The bolt:

12 issecured at its opposite ends as by anenlarged head as 13 and a rivetedxportion 14, within vertically spaced lateral ears-or.

lugs 15 formed on apivoted member for gate 1 look 16 which is adapted to close the'open side of the opening 6'. A coiled sprint! 1? is disposed in the bore '11 and is adapted to react upon-a shoulder 18 formed. on the bolt 12 and the upper end of the bore normally tending to hold the member 16 inits lowermost or locked position. The gate member 16 is provided with a concave inner surface 19 adapted to engage the periphery of the; .drill rods 7 and is further provided with a lug or latch member 20 adapted toregister'v with a recess, 21 formed within the casing2.

. As illustrated, a suitable clearance 22 is pro vided between thev bottom surface of 'the; lug 10 and the-lower ear 15 of the member 16 to permit free vertical movement of the latter. l

In the use of myimproved lifting bail itv will herein be noted that when it is desired to'raise the drill rods from the well, the gate lock '16 is grasped by the operator and is raised upwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, compressing the spring 17 and releasing the lug or latch 20 from the recess 21 in the casing 2, thus permitting the gate 16 to be swung outwardly about the pin 12 as a pivot to substantially the position shown in Fig. 3.

The casing or rod clevis 2 of the lifting bail is then placed about the drill rod below the collar or coupling 9 and the gate 16 is then swung inwardly and when in the position shown in Fig. 2 the lug 2O snaps back within the recess 21 by means of the spring 17 rigidly locking the casing and gate in operative position. The usual hook and cable is then suitably connectedto the lifting bail 5 and the rods 7 raised from the well in any suitable manner.

From theforegoing description it will herein be observe that the im roved lifting bail is provided which is 0 an exceedmgly simple and rugged character especially adap ed to use ma l well drilling wherein What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lifting bail for drill rods, a rod clevis having lugs for receiving the bail and a central laterally extending opening, a

lateral lug formed on said clevis and having a vertical bore, a pivot pin slidably mounted in said bore, a gate member for closing the open side of said clevis, said gate member being connected to said pin, and a spring in said bore acting on said pin for maintaining said gate member in its closed position.

2. In a lifting bail for drill rods, a rod clevis having lugs for receiving the bail and a central laterally extending'opening, said clevis having a recess, a lateral lug formed on said clevis and having a vertical bore, a pivot pin slidably mounted in said bore, a gate member for closing the open side of said clevis, said gate member being connected to said pin and having a locking lug adapted to cooperate with said recess, and a spring in said bore acting on said pin for maintaining said gate member in its closed position with said locking lug disposed in said recess.

3. In a lifting bail for drill rods, a rod clevis having openings for receiving the bail and a central laterally extending opening for receiving the drill rods, a lateral lug formed on said clevis and having a vertical bore, a pin slidably mounted in and extending through said bore, a gate member having vertically spaced lateral lugs connected to the opposite ends of said pin, said gate member being adapted to close the open side 4. In a lifting bail for'drill rods, a rod clevis having openings for receiving the bail and a central laterally extending opening for receiving the drill rods, a lateral lug formed on said clevis. and having a vertical bore, a pin slidably mounted in and extending through said bore, a gate member having vertically spaced lateral lugs connected to the opposite ends of said pin, said gate member being adapted to close the open side of said clevis, a spring disposed in said bore and acting on said pin for maintaining said gate member with the lug formed thereon in engagement with the upper surface of the lug on said clevis, said spring permitting movement of the lower lug on said gate member into engagement with the lower surface of the lug on said clevis, and means for locking said gate member to said clevis ineluding cooperating elements carried respectively by said gate member and said clevis, the vertical movement of said gate member releasing the locking engagement of said elements.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

NORMAN MADSEN. 

